The northern European autumn and winter ‘game season’ remains a key market for NZ venison, even with the industry’s success in building year-round venison demand in other markets. The region is also breaking with tradition and slowly developing a taste for venison as a summer grilling item. Deer Industry NZ (DINZ) venison marketing manager Nick Taylor says exports of NZ venison to northern Europe for the 2018 game season are expected to be worth about $70 million, about 35 per cent of total venison exports. “Because of successful market diversification, the percentage is well down on what we were seeing…

The US-China trade conflict is developing into a ‘cold’ war for global economic supremacy and could result in New Zealand being forced to pick a side between the two global superpowers, according to Rabobank’s Head of Financial Markets research for Asia-Pacific Michael Every reported in FreshPlaza.

Strengthening and extending our trading relationships and discussing the critical security issues in our region will be priorities for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern when she attends the annual East Asia Summit and APEC leaders meeting next week.

New Zealand will be officially represented at the China International Import Expo, with two pavilions that will showcase a range of quality products. David Parker, New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Export Growth, considered the expo an opportunity to send the right message to Chinese consumers.

New Zealand's ties with South Korea stretch back over 50 years; diplomatic relations were formally established in 1962, but the relationship dates back to the deployment of Kiwi troops during the Korean War eports Sam Sadcheva for Newsroom.

The U.S. and Canada agreed to a trade deal with Mexico, setting the stage for their leaders to sign the accord by late November in a region that trades more than $1 trillion annually Industry Week report. The three countries reached an agreement to replace the 24-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement, according to a joint statement from U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland on Sunday. The new deal will be called the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. The accord involves improved access to Canada’s dairy market for U.S. farmers, stronger intellectual property provisions, and…

A major Asia-Pacific trade deal seems to have new momentum, after years of discussions dragged on. What is driving the action, and will New Zealand get the deal it’s after? Sam Sachdeva reports for Newsroom.

Nervousness in Latin America about rising protectionist sentiment could help New Zealand to secure a better trade deal as the region's countries look towards the Asia-Pacific, Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker says.

Former foreign ministers and secretaries of state, including New Zealand's Sir Don McKinnon have written to US President Donald Trump warning him about his "deteriorating relationship" with his allies.

Amidst the flurry of ministerial resignations and appointments, the UK’s announcement that it is formally considering joining the CPTPP trade deal was easy to miss. Sam Sachdeva reports for Newsroom on the significance of the announcement, and the obstacles in the way.

Ron Mark on Friday revealed the most important foreign policy statement we have seen yet from the new government, including an unmistakable shift in NZ’s position on China, writes David Capie for The Spinoff.

TOKYO - Trade ministers of 16 countries that account for 30 per cent of global trade have re-affirmed their resolve for a regional trade deal that will benefit economies at different levels of development.

The New Zealand organic sector has grown 30 per cent or 10 per cent a year since 2015 to now be worth $600 million, buoyed along by consumers, here and globally, demanding natural, ethical products that are good for them and their families. The 2018 OANZ Organic Market Report, released today, shows retail sales of organic products are growing twice as fast as conventional products, up 8.8% to $245 million. While supermarket, grocery and specialty store organic sales are still small as a percentage of total sales, the findings show that Kiwi consumers are taking organic mainstream. Independent research…

European Union trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström says a trade deal with New Zealand is economically and strategically important for the massive European market in a world on the verge of a trade war reports Rebecca Howard for Newsroom.

After years of discussions, the European Union is officially launching trade deal negotiations with New Zealand. EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström is headed to New Zealand this week, and spoke to Sam Sachdeva of Newsroom ahead of her visit about what the EU will get out of the deal - as well as the shaky state of international trade.

The High Commissioner to Britain believes New Zealand will be better off overall as a result of Brexit, with a country that "needs some wins" eager to enter free trade negotiations, with little experience writes Hamish Rutherfordfor Stuff.

It’s been a positive start to 2018 for the global beef sector - with production and consumption up and prices generally favourable - however, building pressures in some of the world’s major beef-producing nations have the potential to change export market dynamics, with implications for New Zealand, according to a recently-released industry report.

Currently, all players in the New Zealand to India trade are hoping that politicians will leverage the Regional Comprehensive Economic Agreement (RCEP), which includes ten countries of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) grouping.

New Zealand to start trade talks with the European Union. Night Talk - Mitch Harris talks with Bernard Savage, the European Ambassador to New Zealand, who is currently in the country preparing for talks with the New Zealand Government regarding a free trade deal between New Zealand and the European Union.

The seemingly stalled New Zealand-India bilateral talks on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries are set to benefit from the recent increase in funding of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) – the department responsible for inking NZ’s trade negotiations around the world.

New Zealand exported a record volume of softwood logs in March, as shipments to most major markets increased, with further strength forecast through the rest of the year, according to AgriHQ, NZX's agricultural analysis business

The government is expecting a final decision overnight about whether the European Union will formally approve free-trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with Australia and New Zealand. The agreement will pave the way for a multi-billion dollar deal before the United Kingdom leaves the EU in March.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will travel to China next week where he will discuss with his Chinese counterpart how the two countries can work together for mutual benefit in the Pacific. Peters will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for talks on a number of issues. Peters told reporters today his four-day visit had been a priority for some time but until now it had not been possible.

New Zealand exporters risk being shut out of the US market because of the Government inaction, given it’s made no effort to build a relationship with its US counterpart, National’s Trade spokesperson Todd McClay says. "New Zealand continues to be on the receiving end of trade restrictions imposed by the US, having been denied an exemption on steel tariffs which were offered to a number of other countries, and now the US wants New Zealanders to pay more for drugs. "US President Donald Trump has announced that the US will be negotiating with countries including New Zealand to pay more…

Paperwork needed to finish a Saudi agrihub project was located more than three years after 900 pregnant ewes were flown from New Zealand writes NZHerald political reporter, Nicholas Jones ,in today's Herald.

Kiwi food producer Smartfoods has signed a $4.5 million sourcing deal with Alibaba to supply it with Vogel's cereal to be sold to consumers in China. Alibaba will sell the product through its various e-commerce channels including through popular online marketplace Tmall over the next 12 months.

Richard Maru, who is in New Zealand this week, said any trade deal has to be on a win-win basis and not likethe PACER-Plus regional trade deal which PNG opposes. He said there are many PNG products which the country has struggled to get into Australia and New Zealand markets, partly because …

WASHINGTON (AP) — Record exports trimmed the U.S. trade deficit in March, the first drop in seven months in a massive gap that President Donald Trump is determined to shrink with an aggressive America first policy. The Commerce Department says the trade deficit — the difference between what …

The Government is disappointed New Zealand has not been included in the announcement by President Trump on exemptions from steel and aluminium tariffs, Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker says.

The Government is disappointed New Zealand has not been included in the announcement by President Trump on exemptions from steel and aluminium tariffs, Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker says.

The judges are three experts in the area of trade: Mike Atkins, Head of Trade Finance at ASB; Charles Finny, Government Relations Consultant, Saunders Unsworth; Rachel Baxter, Customer Managers' Team Leader, NZ Trade and Enterprise.

The winners will be announced at the Awards Gala Dinner at the Napier War Memorial Centre on Thursday, August 2. The judges will be ExportNZ Hawke's Bay chairman Alasdair MacLeod, NZ Trade and Enterprise customer director Dan Taylor, and ASB head of international trade Mike Atkins.

“The agreement also represents a significant first step in setting up a mutually recognised secure trade scheme between New Zealand and the European Union. A secure trade scheme with the European Union will give accredited New Zealand exporters a major advantage in the form of faster clearance … Continue to the full release || May 01, 2018 ||| MSCNewsWire can link viewers to your websiteMSCNewsWire can link viewers to your website

It’s early days. It was a momentous occasion the meeting between Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae In and here’s hoping for better times for the divided Koreas – to become as one or at least open North Korea to become a more open society writes NZManufacturer editor Doug Green

Apr 26 - David Parker, who holds the portfolios of Trade and Export Growth and Economic Development, will also meet the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Melbourne-based Consul General and Trade Commissioner and NZTE contacts for an update on NZTE activities in Australia. ends.

Apr 24 - "We're more focused in the interim of course on securing a free trade agreement with Europe, which we're making steady progress towards them starting negotiations, getting the mandate to start on their side. "And of course have other negotiating priorities with China." Mr Peters also made controversial …

Apr 24 - If they do we'll all breathe a sigh of relief, with our fieriest politician, Winston Peters, even talking about a free trade deal with the rogue country in the future, and why not? Some are saying it's a bit rich for our Foreign Minister, who hasn't exactly built his career as a free trader, to now be beating that …

Apr 24 - The EU's trade chief said Monday that the bloc's two most powerful leaders will tell U.S. President Donald Trump to back off on plans to impose steel and aluminum tariffs when they visit Washington this week. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela …

Apr 24 - As PM Jacinda Ardern returns from a triumphant tour to Britain and he capitals of Europe, her officials have probably begun to assess what the more substantive gains from the trip might have been. Most of the chatter has been about potential trade deals – so lets just assume for the moment that bilateral …

Apr 20 - Importantly, there is a material difference between the trading activity in oil itself and the investment activity in the stocks of oil companies. Traders who trade oil directly are fast money traders, they trade futures contracts that deteriorate over time, so they have to be actively trading, but investors in these …

Apr 20 - Australia's most crucial trade relationship is under threat — and the impact could take a serious toll on the country's industries. Chinese ambassador to Australia Cheng Jingye has criticised the state of Canberra and Beijing's relationship, warning that Australia needs to do more to "increase mutual trust".

Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the Meat Industry Association have appointed Jeff Grant to support the red meat sector’s response to Brexit. Mr Grant, who will be based in London, will work closely with B+LNZ’s Europe representative, the New Zealand Government and commercial interests to help strengthen the red meat sector’s ties with the United Kingdom and safeguard New Zealand’s exports to the key market.

Apr 13 - Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker wants a new progressive and inclusive trade agenda, laying the groundwork for a refreshed strategy, while Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern seeks to accelerate free trade talks with the European Union

Apr 05, 2018 - The Prime Minister will be meeting with leaders of France, Germany and Britain while travelling to Europe next week, in hopes of "moving towards the launch of FTA negotiations with the EU" and Britain. Jacinda Ardern says an independent body could "unlock the impasse” over the nurses union’s rejection of two per cent pay rise from DHB's.

Apr 04, 2018 -Fears of a trade war between the United States and China just escalated again. The Trump administration on Tuesday published a list of about 1,300 Chinese exports that could be targeted for tariffs.

The first kiwifruit has already been picked in New Zealand with orchards cleared to be harvested from the top of the North Island to the top of the South Island. Over 2,500 growers will be harvesting some 13,500 hectares of kiwifruit.

The Cook Islands’ Business Trade & Investment Board (BTIB) is leading a delegation of two exporting companies from the small South Pacific Island country to this weekend’s Pasifika Business Market at the Pasifika Festival.“We are very excited to bring over Kora Pearls and Te Tika to the Pasifika Business Market,” Mona Taio, BTIB Trade & Marketing Officer told Pacific Periscope.

Joseph Micallef writes for Troy Media - CANZUK International was formed to promote a European Union-like agreement for the free movement of citizens, free trade and foreign policy co-ordination between Canada, Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom.

A meeting of the World Customs Organization’s E-commerce Group. In order for the US CBP to successfully implement its new strategy, it will have to work with Customs departments worldwide. The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, has woken up to the same issue that many in the air freight and express industry woke up to several years ago: e-commerce has gone cross-border. That is, instead of imports to the US consisting mostly of big shipments brought in by big companies, there is an increasing volume small shipments – all the…

NDO – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has called on Auckland to further expand its cooperation with Vietnam, especially in terms of economy and trade, in the hope of doubling two-way trade between Vietnam and New Zealand in the time ahead.

Mar 12, 2018 - New Zealand is actively seeking exemption from the punitive tariffs imposed on imports of steel and aluminium to the United States, arguing the country has a relationship with the US "not unlike Australia's", is running a trade deficit with the US, and is such a small producer that it represents no threat to US manufacturers.

Mar 09, 2018 - ExportNZ is celebrating the signing of CPTPP in Chile overnight. ExportNZ Executive Director Catherine Beard says in the context of US protectionist moves and threats of global trade wars, the CPTPP is an exemplar of countries working together for open and free trade.

Mar 08, 2018 - According to the Changzhou Entry-Exit Inspection & Quarantine Bureau, a batch of 1,319 boxes of fruit puree from New Zealand has successfully passed the quarantine examination and has arrived in the Chinese markets.

Beijing-based economist Rodney Jones argues in an article on Newsroom today, New Zealand should have a robust debate about its relations with China under President-for-life Xi Jinping, and should be less afraid of any reaction in China to that debate.

If the answer is YES – PTI NZ is on the hunt for new Distributors and Agents for a range of great Pacific Island made products coming into the New Zealand market.PTI NZ has adverting in the New Zealand Herald’s Friday Business Supplement as well as in PTI NZ’s social media pages on Facebook and LinkedIn has proved positive to date.

Mar 01, 2018 - Some 250 senior Australian and New Zealand business and community leaders, twelve Government Ministers and two Prime Ministers will meet in Sydney this Friday, 2nd March, to identify ways to strengthen the trans-Tasman relationship.

Feb 27, 2018 - Fonterra is breaking new ground in South Asia’s rapidly growing dairy market, with the signing of a new distribution agreement that will make Anchor available to millions more consumers in Bangladesh.

Feb 19, 2018 - Lord Mayor of London visits NZ to boost financial and professional sector links. The Lord Mayor of London, an ambassador for the UK’s financial and professional services industry, is visiting New Zealand at the head of a business delegation this week with the aim of strengthening trade links with the City of London.

Feb 13, 2018 - Legal experts will host a meeting at Wesley Church, 75 Taranaki Street, on Wednesday 14 February at 6.30 pm as part of a nationwide tour informing the public about the rebrand of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). Dr Jane Kelsey, Professor of Law at the University of Auckland, is a leading scholar on international trade and investment agreements. She is joined by Dr Burcu Kilic, from the US organisation Public Citizen, who provides technical assistance to governments and civil society groups on intellectual property law and global access to medicine, as well as former MP…

HomeGeneralFood & drink export sales soar in Brexit boost Feb 12, 2018 -UK (STL.News) Overseas sales of UK food and drink continued to soar last year, with record exports of over £22 billion demonstrating a clear desire for British taste, quality and high standards around the world. UK food and drink businesses are now selling their products to 217 markets – with sales of milk & cream increasing by 61%, salmon by 23% and pork by 14%.

Feb 09, 2018 - Entries are now open to the Air New Zealand Cargo ExportNZ Awards 2018 - Auckland and Waikato. Export business operations based in Northland, Auckland and/or the Waikato regions are eligible to enter.

Jan 24, 2018 -BusinessNZ and ExportNZ have welcomed the revival of the Comprehensive Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership. BusinessNZ Chief Executive Kirk Hope said the agreement of all 11 partners to the agreement had been hard won, and was immensely worthwhile.

Jan 22, 2018 - A UK manufacturing group is reportedly poised to urge the Tory and Unionist cabinet not to pull Britain out from the EU customs union, alleging that remaining in the single market post-Brexit could produce double benefits for the UK.

Jan 22, 2018 - Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker leaves for London and Switzerland on Tuesday for a series of meetings on trade and economic issues. In London Mr Parker will hold talks with the Rt Hon David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, and the Rt Hon Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Agriculture.

Jan 16, 2018 - Some Kiwi firms see the Amazon opening in Australia as a threat. Others believe it’s a massive opportunity to crack a major market in good company. Kevin Kevany discovers one of its biggest advocates. Amazon.com.au’s opening in Australia is anything but a threat to New Zealand’s SME (small and medium enterprise) manufacturing sector. In fact, it could turn out to be one of the greatest boosts to our food and beverage, specialist clothing, hi-tech and other locally derived and targeted product producers in decades. Certainly since the global financial crisis. And it can simplify any Kiwi…

Jan 15, 2018 - The Consumer Technology Association has identified the 13 most innovation countries. The Association is an American standards and trade organisation that represents the $351 billion U.S. consumer technology industry.

Jan 12, 2018 - Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, completed a year of strong growth in 2017. The air cargo carrier’s robust performance, set against the backdrop of a resurgent global air cargo market, was underlined by the introduction of specialised customer focused air transportation solutions across a number of industry verticals and by continued investment in infrastructure.

Dec 20, 2017 - New Zealand’s trade relationship with India has been strong and growing rapidly. As at Year ended June 2017, India was the Seventh largest export destination and 11th largest import source for New Zealand’s total exports and imports of goods and services respectively. India was the fifth largest destination for New Zealand’s commercial services exports after China, Australia, EU and US, and the Ninth largest import source for its commercial services imports. Table 1 suggests that, as at year-end June 2017, India was New Zealand’s 11th largest trading partner based on total trade in goods and services,…

Dec 20, 2017 - “The Brexit and the European Plastics Converting Industry” has been published jointly by the British Plastics Federation and the European Plastics Converters Association.Brexit A year and a half have passed since the Brexit referendum, and following months of negotiations, Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker announced that “sufficient progress” has been made to allow the beginning of the next phase: the talks about the future relationship between the EU and the UK. In the light of these developments, the European Plastics Converters Association (EuPC) and the British Plastics Federation (BPF) have drafted a joint position paper, emphasising…

Dec 19, 2017 - The Minister for Trade and Export Growth needs to put New Zealand exporters ahead of coalition politics and get the TPP deal done, National Party Trade Spokesperson Todd McClay says. “The Trade Minister’s statement following last week’s WTO Ministerial Conference reveals more for what it doesn’t say and demonstrates rising trade tensions within the Government. “Today’s statement was completely silent on the TPP, showing that Labour are starting to bow to pressure from their junior Coalition partner - New Zealand First. “New Zealand First, Labour and the Greens have all previously voted against TPP legislation. The…

Dec 14, 2017 - The European Union (EU) and Japan have concluded negotiations on a free trade deal to create the world’s largest open economic area, signalling their rejection of the protectionist stance of US president Donald Trump. The two parties, who agreed in principle the outlines of the deal in July, said negotiators had now finished a legal text that would open up trade for economies generating about 30% of global GDP. In a joint statement, Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the deal had “considerable economic value” and “strategic importance”. “With the…

Dec 11, 2017 - New Zealand exporters need to maintain a dialogue with Government about issues encountered in overseas markets at a time when New Zealand is looking to expand, and possibly reshape, its trade law framework, says Daniel Kalderimis, partner and head of Chapman Tripp’s International Law practice. "International trade policy is entering choppy waters, and the rise of China, the Trump Administration’s America First philosophy and Brexit will all bear directly on New Zealand in ways that are difficult to predict. "Although the prognosis looks good post the APEC Summit for the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership…

Dec 7, 2017 - A new arrangement signed recently will simplify New Zealand's meat product exports to Egypt, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) said today. Under the new arrangement, Egyptian authorities will no longer have to visit each individual meat premise that wishes to export to Egypt. The arrangement was signed by MPI Director-General Martyn Dunne and Egyptian Deputy Minister for Agriculture Dr Mona Mehrez in Wellington. "This the first time Egypt has agreed this type of arrangement with any country, and is a clear demonstration of the strength of New Zealand's meat regulatory programme and our good relationship…

Dec 04, 2017 - Eagle-eyed planespotters are noticing increasing visits by cargo planes to Christchurch Airport at the moment. This signals the start of the key export season and highlights the valuable contribution local producers and exporters make to the local economy. Tasman Cargo Airlines National manager Gerry Bray says the company's Boeing 757 Freighter came into Christchurch last Sunday, bringing a variety of goods to the South Island. He says it left with a range of high value fresh produce bound for Auckland, Sydney and beyond. "The B757F has a payload capability of 32,000kgs and the aircraft moved nearly…

Dec 4, 2017 - Uncertainty over Brexit means New Zealand needs to urgently focus on developing brands and differentiating our agricultural exports. Senior lecturer in Agribusiness Management, Dr Nic Lees, said New Zealand produces some of the best fruit, wine, meat, seafood and dairy products in the world but around 70 per cent reaches the consumer with no identification that is sourced from here. “Sudden changes such as Brexit remind us that relying on undifferentiated commodity exports leaves us vulnerable to sudden changes in government policies,” Dr Lees said. “When consumers demand a branded product, it is difficult for governments…

Dec 4, 2017 -New Zealand’s two-way trade with APEC reached $102 billion for the year ended September 2017, Stats NZ said today. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum brings together 21 Pacific Rim member economies, including Australia, China, and the United States – three of our main trading partners. "Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing economic region in the world," international statistics manager Tehseen Islam said. "Over the last decade, New Zealand's two-way trade with APEC has grown $31 billion, and a $2.6 billion deficit is now a $4 billion surplus." APEC is the Asia-Pacific's main economic forum where a number of…

Nov 30, 2017 - Amazon's arrival in Australia brings with it opportunities for New Zealand firms writes Wellington consultant Hamish Conway in his company, Sell Global blog. Amazon is in 11 marketplaces around the world, with 123 fulfilment centres, and buying customers in 189 countries. The States is the biggest, with the UK able to fulfil to the other 26 European countries. They’re in Japan, and China but they’re having a tough time in China. AliBaba and the WeChat Group just dominate the Chinese market, with Amazon only having something like a 5% share of the market and consistently struggling…

Nov 30, 2017 - Zespri Shipping Manager Mike Knowles says Seatrade has decided to exit the Meridian shipping routes to Northern Europe and East Coast North America. CMA CGM has agreed to step in and provide uninterrupted service on these routes for New Zealand exporters. “We’ve partnered with Seatrade for many years and enjoyed excellent and loyal service from the company for which we thank them." “While it’s sad that they won’t be operating in New Zealand anymore, we’re confident that CMA CGM will run an excellent service for the NZ kiwifruit industry in future. CMA CGM will provide a…

Nov 24, 2017 - New Zealand structural log prices rose to the highest level in 24 years and A-grade export logs hit a record as local mills compete with the export market to secure supply for the domestic construction market amid strong demand from China. The price for structural S1 logs increased to $130 a tonne this month, from $128 a tonne last month, marking the highest level since 1993, according to AgriHQ's monthly survey of exporters, forest owners and saw millers. Export log prices lifted between $2-to-$5 a tonne for the majority of grades, with the price for A-Grade…

Nov 24, 2017 - Australia has reiterated the importance of New Zealand to its foreign policy direction in its latest white paper, with particular emphasis on the role it sees New Zealand playing in its economic engagement with Pacific island countries. In the Australian government's 2017 foreign policy white paper, released this morning, the relationship with New Zealand is described as "our most comprehensive" and the authors say Australia is committed to deepening it further. Australia sees itself as "delivering a step change in our engagement with Pacific island countries", with an aim for "more ambitious engagement, including helping to…

16 Nov 2017 - Sales of Anchor UHT milk were particularly strong and the brand was the leading imported UHT product across all online sales platforms during the sales window. Double 11 is characterised by deep-discounting and wide-ranging promotions, generating a level of hype similar to a holiday festival in China. According to data from Syntun, China’s 16 largest e-commerce merchants achieved a combined RMB 254 billion (NZD $55.1 billion) in sales this year during the period, up 43 per cent on last year’s total. President of Fonterra Greater China Christina Zhu said Fonterra’s strong growth on last year reflects…

14 Nov 2017 - Portland’s year-long effort to attract regular liner services back to Oregon’s only container port took an important step forward Monday with the announcement that Swire Shipping will initiate a monthly service that will carry truck exports to Australia-New Zealand and containerized imports from Asia. “It’s a first step, but a critical first step,” said Keith Leavitt, Portland’s chief commercial officer.” He added, “This is important to us because we have to demonstrate to the trans-Pacific that Portland is back to work. In addition to its thriving breakbulk and bulk services, Portland for years was an important…

13 Nov 2017 - Recent changes to the TPP agreement, now called CPTPP, appear to be a step forward, particularly with the potential removal of some of the more controversial parts, such as Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) clauses. Yet, we need to remind ourselves that the primary target of these FTAs is the reduction of tariffs, providing benefits to our primary commodity exporters, but little relief to our high value manufacturers, who frequently encounter obstacles to free trade in the form of non-tariff barriers. “Non-tariff barriers are the ‘dirty little secrets’ rarely written into trade agreements, but a matter…

13 Nov 2017 - The 2017 ExportNZ DHL Export Barometer released today shows Kiwi exporters are feeling confident and expecting orders to increase over the next 12 months, Business New Zealand says. Optimism is very positive with 71% of New Zealand exporters expecting international orders to increase - this is a jump from 63% in 2016. The research shows that overall 2017 has been a good year, with just over half (55%) of exporters achieving an increase in international orders. While the survey was carried out prior to the election, ongoing political support for the export environment will be crucial…

13 Nov 2017 - After a few fraught days, the TPP was given new life. However, the struggles to get the deal across the line and other issues at the Apec summit raise questions about obstacles to multilateral trade and what that means for New Zealand, as Sam Sachdeva reports. The ideological battle for the future of Asia-Pacific trade played out on the big screen at Da Nang. Of course, there was the stuttering, stumbling, but ultimately successful (or near enough) negotiations to reach agreement on the TPP (now known as the CPTPP - the Comprehensive and Progressive agreement for…

12 Nov 2017 - Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker has welcomed the 11-member Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) which incorporates the TPP. A Ministerial Statement has been issued today by all eleven Ministers in Da Nang, Viet Nam, which confirms the core elements of the deal are now agreed, with just four issues requiring further technical work and discussion. "My Ministerial counterparts and I also agreed this week to suspend a number of the most controversial parts of the of the original TPP in the new Agreement,” says Minister Parker. “At the same…

10 Nov 2017 - An unnamed Asian member of the so-called TPP-11 has thrown a spanner in the works of 11th-hour negotiations on the future of the controversial Pacific Rim trade and investment deal. Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker told New Zealand media early local time that there had been “an unusual turn of events” at the trade ministers’ meeting in Da Nang last night. The ministers believed they had reached an agreement at around 10pm and there was “celebratory clapping”, only for an official of an unnamed nation to dispute that a settlement had been reached. The…

9 Nov 2017 - New Zealand’s exports in semi-processed casings are set to resume in the next few weeks following successful talks between New Zealand and China. Semi-processed casings are thin tubular cases used as sausage skins. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says trade discussions have been successful. “The Ministry for Primary Industries and Chinese authorities have successfully completed talks to enable exports of semi-processed natural casings from New Zealand to China to resume. “In 2013, New Zealand voluntarily suspended exports in semi-processed casings in response to discussions with Chinese authorities about the processing steps for these casings. "New Zealand was…

8 Nov - Auckland's largest trade delegation, totalling almost 100 delegates from 70 businesses, is convening in southern China for talks on growing the regional economy. Also taking part in the Tripartite Economic Alliance Summit from Wednesday to Friday is host Guangzhou and Los Angeles. "Businesses clearly see the advantage of interacting with our two sister cities at the summit," said Mayor Phil Goff, who is leading the Auckland delegation. "Each are gateway cities to two of the most important and powerful economies in the world." Mr Goff, Guangzhou Mayor Wen Guohui and Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Jeff Gorell will…

8 Nov - Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker says the Government will not shrink away from New Zealand’s leadership role on free trade - but it must be on our terms. Before heading to Apec, Parker spoke to Sam Sachdeva, Newsroom's Foreign Affairs and Trade EditorNewsroom's Foreign Affairs and Trade Editor about taking on “the excesses of globalised capital” and avoiding a public backlash. Befitting his status as one of Labour’s policy wonks, David Parker has been handed an array of challenging roles. The economic development and environment portfolios, both areas where the Government has some ambitious plans,…

7 Nov 2017 - The first big test for the Government will be to get TPP over the line with New Zealand on board writes Catherine Beard in today's NZHerald. Why does this matter? Because free trade agreements translate into new income and jobs, and if the new Government wants to spend more we need to earn more. Every additional $1 billion in exports equates to 8500 new jobs. Continue here to read the full article || November 7, 2017 |||

3 Nov - Chinese Mayors representing around 80 million citizens will gather in Wellington on 3-4 December for talks with their Kiwi counterparts. Fifteen Chinese mayors and vice-mayors from mid and large-sized cities will visit for the second New Zealand China Mayoral Forum to further strengthen relationships between regions of both countries. They will be joined by 33 mayors from across New Zealand, from our biggest city Auckland to some of our smaller regional centres. The Forum, hosted by Local Government New Zealand and Wellington City Council, is the second time Mayors from China and New Zealand will meet, following…

A free trade agreement (FTA) between India and New Zealand has stalled, with one official describing the deal as surviving on “life support” write Shane Cowlishaw and Sam Sachdeva for Newsroom While the focus is currently on the looming TPP deal and how that will be affected by New Zealand’s decision to ban foreign property buyers, it had been hoped some progress could have been made towards a deal with India, the world’s second most populous country. Last year, then-Prime Minister John Key visited India and after meeting his counterpart Narendra Modi said great progress had been made. "They were…

World Top Exports founder Daniel Workman takes a look at the Global sales from kiwifruit exports by country which sees New Zealand rated No 1. Global sales from kiwifruit exports by country amounted to US$2.5 billion in 2016. Overall, the value of kiwifruit exports were up by an average 20.1% for all exporting countries since 2012 when kiwifruit shipments were valued at $2.1 billion. Year over year, the value of global kiwifruit exports appreciated by 8.7% from 2015 to 2016. Among continents, Oceanian countries (mainly New Zealand) accounted for the highest dollar worth of exported kiwifruit during 2016 with shipments…

As Donald Trump whips the world into a frenzy with his tweets, China is plotting a trillion-dollar global trade revamp which could change everything reads an article in The NZHerald. It's being dubbed the "New Silk Road" which could redefine global trade and mark a tipping point for a new Asian century. So far, 68 countries including New Zealand have signed up to the President Xi Jinping's "One Belt, One Road" (BRI) project, but it's left Aussie politicians divided and scratching their heads, according to an international relations expert. "I don't think the government has done a great deal of…

New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines David Strachan expects stronger ties between his country and Cebu as the two parties further explore opportunities in trade, tourism and education. At a time when the people-to-people links between New Zealand and the Philippines are burgeoning, Strachan led an 11-strong New Zealand delegation to Cebu to look into potential areas of collaboration. “We continue to strengthen our ties and explore partnerships that would be beneficial for Cebu and New Zealand,” he said in a roundtable discussion with local media at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel last Friday. According to Strachan, 80 percent of…

Of the top five countries writes by Pam Tipa in RuralNews, New Zealand trades with, it only has trade deals with two, an ExportNZ conference has heard. “That leaves us very vulnerable,” says trade expert Charles Finny. “We don’t have links to those markets that others do.” National trade spokesman Todd McClay had earlier pushed the case for NZ to forge ahead in doing deals with like-minded countries. Of our top five goods export countries -- China, Australia, US, EU and Japan -- we only have trade deals with China and Australia, he told the Auckland conference held on September…

Did you know that it takes over twelve hours to fly from China to the United States? With such a large distance between them, it is not surprising that the regions differ in many ways, from culture to industry. Here, Jonathan Wilkins, marketing director at obsolete industrial parts supplier, EU Automation explains the main differences between the manufacturing markets in the United States and the Asia Pacific region. The fourth industrial revolution, Industry 4.0, that brings the Internet of Things (IoT) to industry, first began in Germany. Manufacturers worldwide aim to compete with companies by investing in the technology introduced…

The New Zealand economy continued to grow solidly in the June quarter, posting a 0.8 per cent increase in GDP, taking New Zealand's growth rate for the year to 2.7 per cent, Finance Minister Steven Joyce says. “Our economy continues to outperform many developed nations, underpinned by strong export and domestic demand,” Mr Joyce says. “It is still a challenging international environment, which is why we need to continue with an economic plan that is working for New Zealand.” New Zealand’s growth over the last year has exceeded that of Australia, the United Kingdom, the USA, the Euro area, Japan,…

Trade Minister Todd McClay says a trade agreement with Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Peru could be worth 10,000 jobs to provincial New Zealand and will give Kiwis unprecedented access to fast-growing Latin American markets. This comes as Mr McClay calls for public submissions on FTA negotiations with the Pacific Alliance countries. “Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Peru combined have 221 million consumers and a GDP of US$3.85 trillion, which is equivalent to the world’s sixth largest economy,” Mr McClay says. “This is an important market for us now, and we want the public and the business community to consider how they…

Trade Minister Todd McClay says he expects the NZ-European Union Free Trade Agreement to be formally launched later this year after the European Commission and New Zealand both finalised their respective negotiating mandates. “It’s extremely important the European Commission and New Zealand have completed this next step,” Mr McClay says. “European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker also announced tonight in his ‘State of the Union’ address that he is seeking approval to launch negotiations and aims to conclude the NZ-EU FTA by late 2019.” “An FTA will give New Zealand companies an opportunity to significantly increase trade with the EU.” “Two-way…

Business and community leaders from across Alabama are traveling in Australia and New Zealand this week, seeking to boost exports and strengthen trade ties in the region. The 17-member delegation kicked off a series of briefings with U.S. Commercial Service officials in Sydney, as well as appointments with area companies. Later in the week, the group will travel to Auckland, New Zealand’s primary commercial hub for a similar slate of meetings. “Alabama has strong, and growing, relationships with both Australia and New Zealand, and we want to build on those bonds,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of…

Trade Minister Todd McClay says the Government has agreed a negotiating mandate to upgrade the China Free Trade Agreement that will deliver thousands of jobs and be worth billions to our economy. “China is a significant trading partner. Our FTA with China has helped New Zealand companies stay in business during the GFC and keeps Kiwis in jobs,” Mr McClay says. “We currently have $24 billion of two-way trade with this large economy and impressive growth in education, tourism and goods exports.” “Trade means jobs - we know 8500 jobs are created in New Zealand from every billion dollars of…

“Globalization has changed, but in its earlier form, it was principally about opening up the possibilities of economic specialization, economies of scale, and economies of scope.”By Anand Swaminathan for The Politic Dr. Alan Bollard serves as the Executive Director of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which promotes regional trade, economic growth, and sustainability. As Executive Director, Dr. Bollard presides over economic programs that are mandated by APEC’s leaders and ministers. Before his work with APEC, Dr. Bollard served as Secretary to the New Zealand Treasury from 1998 to 2002 and then Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand from 2002…

Support for TPP11 and the wider trade agenda by the incoming government is crucial for New Zealand now and in the future, says the EMA. The need to speed up the growth of exporting was one of the key recommendations in the EMA 2017 ElectionManifesto. “As a nation we rely heaving on trade for jobs and growth. With a population the size of ours, we need a vibrant exporting sector for New Zealand’s prosperity, says Kim Campbell, CEO, EMA. “Which is why it’s vital whoever is in government in the next term ensures our trade agenda progresses and remains on…

Trade Minister Todd McClay says he is deeply disappointed Queensland is pushing ahead with discriminatory government procurement rules which will unfairly disadvantage and potentially harm New Zealand companies. Mr McClay has today initiated formal consultations with the Australian Federal Government to fight for the fair and balanced trade access that New Zealand companies have a right to expect across the Tasman. “Initiating consultations sends a strong message that the Bill English-led Government will not stand by whilst an Australian state government undermines our mutually beneficial relationship,” Mr McClay says. “The NZ Consulate-General has been engaging with Queensland over the last…

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Trade negotiators from Canada and the United States gathered under rainy skies in Mexico City on Friday to discuss the North American Free Trade Agreement, with the mood darkened by U.S. President Donald Trump's persistent threats to pull out. Teams from the three countries were due to kick off a second round of talks on 25 areas of discussion, with subjects such as digital commerce and small businesses seen as areas where consensus was possible, Mexican officials said. The Sept. 1-5 round will also touch on more thorny topics such as rules governing local content in…

Sistema CEO and Customs .jpgCustoms and Sistema Plastics have signed a partnership under the NZ Customs Secure Export Scheme (SES), endorsing the exporter’s supply chain security standards. Customs and Sistema executives met at the Sistema head office in Auckland to seal the deal with an official Certificate of Partnership. Customs Acting Comptroller Christine Stevenson says New Zealand’s SES gives members greater certainty at international borders and ensures minimal delay. “We recognise the importance of supporting international trade. Sistema is one of the country’s most successful manufacturing businesses, and now exports to more than 80 countries around the world. The Sistema…

"Double the amount of pallets fit onto a container ship" writes Nele Moorthamers Marketing Manager Europe ZESPRI International ( Europe) NV for FreshPlaza. A few months ago Seatrade introduced a new line from New Zealand. "Our kiwis now go to Belgium with the Seatrade Blue," says Nele Moorthamers of Zespri Europe. "This container ship goes to Zeebrugge via Peru and the US, arriving at the BNFW terminal, where the kiwis are unloaded. It will be a set line that will arrive at Zeebrugge every 10 days. The first ship from the new line arrived on August 28. Around 40% of…

KUCHING: New Zealand is keen to further enhance its ties with Sarawak, especially in the areas of education and tourism. Its High Commissioner in Malaysia Dr John Subritzky said given there are many Malaysians coming to New Zealand to study, education is something that his country and Sarawak can work on a lot more. He said tourism between Malaysia and New Zealand had also grown a lot, where many New Zealand tourists are coming to Malaysia and many Malaysian tourists, including Sarawakians, are going to New Zealand. Subritzky said the purpose of his visit to Sarawak is to meet a…

Complex issue of food imports pushes Brussels to bend its rules on not yet talking trade with Britain writes Simon Marks for Politico Brexit negotiators are close to an agreement on a key trade issue that diplomats anticipate will be formally wrapped up at the latest round of Brexit talks next week. With the two sides deadlocked on major stumbling blocks such as how to calculate the U.K.’s financial obligations to the bloc — the so-called Brexit bill — the rapid progress towards an early agreement is the first concrete result from the talks, which have been running since June.…

Writes Allan Golombek a Senior Director at the White House Writers Group for Real Clear Markets. The scene in the Hamburg supermarket was stark. Row after row of empty shelves, dotted by a few products made domestically. Edeka supermarkets, the largest supermarket chain in Germany, emptied one store of every last imported good on a weekend. They were making a point. Rather than a protest against openness and diversity, it was an object lesson in the benefits we all derive from those two values. It was a defense of tolerance, but also a reminder that openness to goods and services,…

It is already five months since Theresa May triggered Article 50, thereby serving the mandatory two years’ notice for Britain to leave the EU on 29 March, 2019 writes David Bulk for Yahoo Finance. In that time there have been limited proposals formulated in terms of policy documentation – especially by the UK government. The EU side certainly knows what it wants and most of what we hear this side of the Channel from Juncker, Verhofstadt and Barnier are edicts and demands. Well, Britain’s very own Brexit triumvirate of May, Davis and Fox are back at work from their summer…

The first round of long-awaited talks on modernizing NAFTA finished Sunday, with Canada, Mexico and the United States issuing a statement that they had made "detailed conceptual presentations" of their positions. Negotiators from the three countries will meet again in Mexico on September 1 to continue trying to revise the trade pact. But while all say they are keen to see a new deal emerge, they still have to navigate the political risks attached to any commercial agreement. Donald Trump´s promise to renegotiate trade deals was a key plank of his "America First" campaign platform. One of his first acts…

National is promising to deliver New Zealand's boldest-ever trade push if it wins the election, creating "shiploads of jobs" and giving the economy a multi-billion dollar boost. Trade spokesman Todd McClay says a National-led government will work to unlock markets with 2.5 billion new consumers for the benefit of large and small exporters in every region. "This new trade access will create shiploads of jobs and be worth billions of dollars to our economy and businesses across the country," he said on Tuesday. Most of the initiatives Mr McClay is committing to following through have already been announced and some,…

Brexit and Ireland Britain's troubled relationship with the island next door is a problem again. Theresa May's government has urged the European Union to allow British businesses to continue to enjoy the benefits of the free trade of goods into Europe after Britain has left the EU. Brexit secretary David Davis said:"These papers will help give businesses and consumers certainty and confidence in the UK's status as an economic powerhouse after we have left the European Union". The Government is to publish more details of its negotiation plans for Brexit later this week. "We've published recently just in the last…

Kiwi companies are queueing up to do business with Vietnam and other similar sized Asian countries, a leading New Zealand tech businessman says. Mitchell, chair of NZTech, FinTechNZ and a New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) beachheads advisor in technology business for the ASEAN region, has just returned from a major Kiwi business exploration trip to Vietnam. Pham has also been advising the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the Asia New Zealand Foundation. He says Kiwi tech sector must be an active part of the New Zealand story, presence and engagement in South East Asia to gain…

Wellington Drive announces exclusive agreement with Alaska Refrigeration for the sales and distribution of its SCS Connect system in Vietnam. Alaska Refrigeration www.alaska.vn is a refrigeration equipment manufacturer and distributor based in Vietnam, supplying a wide range of appliances for domestic and commercial applications. Wellington’s CEO, Greg Allen said; "The agreement with Alaska is another indication of the increasing importance of Wellington’s brand and its SCS solutions in the Asia Pacific market. As the profile of SCS has grown with large global soft drink and beverage brands we are seeing increasing opportunities in new countries across the broader food and…

Trade Minister Todd McClay says Thailand and New Zealand have agreed to market access improvements for our exporters and announced a new agricultural cooperation programme. “In Bangkok today we signed an agreement increasing the volume of New Zealand dairy products that can enter Thailand under a preferential tariff rate. For some products this will mean a preference increase of between 10 and 20 per cent,” Mr McClay says. “We also agreed to launch a new programme that will help Thailand to improve its domestic dairy production and processing.” “This is a positive step forward for our bilateral trade relationship.” “Thailand…

Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed further engagement between New Zealand and the United Kingdom. “The establishment of a people-to-people dialogue has been announced during Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson’s visit to New Zealand,” Mr Brownlee says. “New Zealand and the United Kingdom enjoy a broad and enduring partnership. At its foundation are the connections between the people of our two countries. “The Foreign Secretary and I agreed that enhancing those connections will help support a stronger political and economic relationship between New Zealand and the United Kingdom. “The dialogue will provide a forum for discussing a wide range of issues…

One of New Zealand’s longest-running pioneering business success stories, Gallagher Power Fence Systems Limited, has announced plans to expand operations in Kenya at Tatu City. Gallagher will build 24 warehouses on four-acres at Tatu Industrial Park, the leading industrial area with Special Economic Zone status in East Africa. The warehouses will be used for storage of security products and for lease. Construction will commence in September 2017 and create approximately 100 jobs as part of the multimillion dollar investment. Whilst visiting Tatu City, Sir William Gallagher, Chairperson and CEO of the company, said that the move was a strategic step…

Trade Minister Todd McClay will make the first official visit to Thailand by a New Zealand Minister since 2013 to engage with key ministers and business leaders on trade. “Thailand is now our eighth largest trading partner. Since the Thailand New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership came into force, total goods trade has increased almost 150 per cent to more than $3 billion in 2016,” Mr McClay says. “Many New Zealand companies have benefited from better access, but there is opportunity to further increase goods and services exports.” During the two day visit, Mr McClay will sign an agreement increasing the…

Defence Minister Mark Mitchell has held talks today with Japanese State Minister of Defence Kenji Wakamiya, who is conducting an official visit to New Zealand. “Japan is an increasingly important defence partner for New Zealand,” Mr Mitchell says. “We have a defence relationship underpinned by our common democratic values, and the fact we are both maritime nations vulnerable to natural disasters. “The New Zealand Government was immensely grateful for the support the Japan Self-Defense Forces provided us after the Kaikoura earthquake last year,” Mr Mitchell says. New Zealand and Japan are also strongly committed to maintaining regional peace and security.…

China's trillion-dollar 'Belt and Road Initiative' is still in its early stages, but one expert says New Zealand shouldn't take too long to work out how we can benefit from the project. Sam Sachdeva reports. Chinese investment is always a touchy subject in New Zealand politics - and that goes double in an election year. It's no surprise then that ears were pricked during Premier Le Keqiang's visit earlier this year by the signing of a memorandum of agreement between New Zealand and China which could lead to millions more dollars flowing in through a Chinese strategy to lead on…

Exclusive Mfat report lays out case for pavilion in 2020, writes Nicholas Jones in The New Zealand Herald 20 Jul 2017 Emirates’ sponsorship of America’s Cup winners Team New Zealand was cited as part of a case for participation in a Dubai expo that will cost taxpayers $53 million, documents show. Other factors cited for giving “serious consideration” to committing to Expo 2020 included growing defence and security links with the United Arab Emirates — which Dubai is part of — and the economic value of Emirates’ daily flights to New Zealand. An October 2016 scoping update from the Ministry…

The Minister of Trade will launch the first academic survey of New Zealand's trade negotiations from the 1970s to the present in Wellington on Thursday, 20 July. Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations, Stephen Hoadley, from the Faculty of Arts, has reviewed trade diplomacy from early attempts to sell beef to Japan to current efforts to secure free trade agreements with Europe, Britain, and the United States. His subsequent book New Zealand Trade Negotiations details the setting of precedent in Closer Economic Relations with Australia in 1983 and then how a dozen more free trade agreements were negotiated successfully,…

HydroWorks Limited (“HydroWorks” or “Company”), a Christchurch based hydro engineering company, is pleased to announce that it has successfully commissioned five mini-hydro energy recovery systems (“Climate Defenders”) for the Melbourne Water Department (“Melbourne Water”). The plants are located within Melbourne Water’s existing urban water supply network and have been designed to recover the excess energy present in the flowing water, convert it to electricity and export it into the Melbourne electricity network. The excess energy is a by-product of the height differences between Melbourne’s main water storage reservoirs and Melbourne’s inner suburb reservoirs and was “wasted” to the environment. HydroWorks…

Customs Minister Tim Macindoe welcomes the signing of a Customs Cooperation Agreement with the European Union in Brussels overnight. The Agreement will strengthen cooperation with the European Union in such areas as Customs procedures and supply chain security and risk management. Mr Macindoe says this Agreement signifies our joint ongoing commitment to close cooperation. For New Zealand, the Agreement will: allow for closer cooperation on the delivery of technical assistance and capacity building activities we provide to other countries, particularly in the Pacific enable us to learn from each other particularly in terms of research and development in customs technology…

Trade Minister Todd McClay says he believes the time is right to launch trade talks with Mexico, Chile, Peru and Colombia as part of the Government’s push for better access in Latin America. Mr McClay leaves tomorrow to attend the Pacific Alliance Leaders Summit where a trade deal will be top of his agenda. “We’ve been talking to the four Pacific Alliance countries about better access for Kiwi exporters for the last two years. With direct flights to South America there is increasing opportunity for New Zealanders to do more in these growing markets,” Mr McClay says. “New Zealand currently…

Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee will today travel to Cuba to meet with his counterpart before attending the Pacific Alliance Summit in Colombia. On June 27, Mr Brownlee will visit Cuba to meet Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla. “This visit will help to strengthen New Zealand’s interests in the Latin American region, which is home to about 625 million people,” Mr Brownlee says. “New Zealand works with Cuba on a number of important issues, including agriculture, international development, and regional cooperation. “Both nations provide support to Small Island Developing States in the Pacific and Caribbean regions. Cuba is an important…

Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee has today announced three senior appointments to oversee New Zealand’s involvement in Expo 2020, being held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Ex-Chairman of Kensington Swan lawyers, Clayton Kimpton, has been appointed as New Zealand’s Commissioner-General to Expo 2020 and prominent business leaders, Dame Julie Christie and Christopher Luxon, have been appointed to a wider steering group. “Expo 2020 presents a huge opportunity for New Zealand businesses to promote their goods and services into a region that has become one of New Zealand's fastest-growing markets outside China,” Mr Brownlee says. “The value of our trade with…

China has approved formal access for New Zealand bovine blood products into the Chinese market, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has announced today. Access has been approved by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (AQSIQ) for New Zealand premises to export bovine blood products, such as bovine protein and serum, to China. This follows successful negotiations by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). “Formal access for New Zealand bovine blood products opens up enormous opportunities for our producers. These products represent a valuable market and we expect our exports will be…

Trade Minister Todd McClay says his visit to Washington for high-level trade talks with the Trump Administration has been a success and that the U.S. has indicated it is open to a free trade agreement (FTA) with New Zealand when the time is right. Mr McClay met with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, newly appointed U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Congressman David Reichert, Special Advisors to the President and members of the US Chamber of Commerce. Mr McClay says Secretary Ross has indicated that he is open to a trade deal with New Zealand and did not see any major issues,…

Trade Minister Todd McClay says a new era of closer economic relations with the Pacific has dawned following the signing of the PACER Plus trade and development agreement in Tonga today. “This is a landmark moment for the economic future of the Pacific. Pacer Plus will help sustainably develop the countries involved through trade and help raise the standard of living for their people. A more resilient and prosperous Pacific is in all of our interests,” Mr McClay says. “In the short-term, the Pacific countries who have signed this agreement will benefit economically and socially through the joint NZ Australia…

Building trading contacts is at the top of the list for a delegation of businesses that arrives today in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, for a five-day visit. The delegation consists of six companies, and is being led by Wellington Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive John Milford. Members will attend the 70th anniversary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei, before visiting the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office (NZCIO), the Wellington Chamber's office in Taipei that is responsible for the development of trade, economic and cultural interests with Taiwan, given New Zealand does not have diplomatic relations with…

New Zealand is trumpeting a new trade and development deal for the Pacific - but will it boost the economies of the smaller countries, or undercut their development writes Sam Sachdeva Newsroom Pro's Foreign Affairs and Trade Editor. After eight long years of negotiations, it’s finally time to put pen to paper. New Zealand, Australia and 11 other Pacific nations are gathering in Tonga on Wednesday to sign the PACER Plus trade and development agreement. Speaking ahead of the signing, Trade Minister Todd McClay hailed the deal as “a new era for closer economic relations in the Pacific”, saying it…

Trade Minister Todd McClay says the signing ceremony in Tonga of the landmark PACER Plus trade and development agreement on Wednesday will usher in a new era for closer economic relations in the Pacific. Mr McClay will be joined at the ceremony by Australia and the Pacific Island countries who are ready to sign up. “After eight years of negotiation, the opening for signature of PACER Plus allows us to begin implementation of a $55 million development package that will boost exports, lift living standards and create jobs across the Pacific,” Mr McClay says. “The agreement will create a common…

Trade Minister Todd McClay has announced the establishment of the Services Export Reference Group at a press conference to launch an OECD study in Paris today highlighting the significant opportunity services exports offer the New Zealand economy. “Services account for 70 per cent of our GDP, 80 per cent of New Zealand jobs and 31 per cent of our exports,” Mr McClay says. “It is therefore imperative that we work closely with the services sector to bring down barriers and help them find greater success in overseas markets.” Mr McClay has invited 40 New Zealand services exporters and industry groups…

Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee today named diplomat Chris Langley as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Brazil. “Brazil is a global player on issues of importance to New Zealand, and we work closely together on a range of international issues including global trade, international security and climate change,” Mr Brownlee says. “New Zealand has a strong and growing economic relationship with Brazil, which is the seventh largest economy in the world. We have significant investments in Brazil’s dairy sector and are deepening links through education and tourism. “We recently restarted a trade dialogue with Mercosur – the Southern Common Market, which…

Trade Minister Todd McClay says the OECD Trade and Economic Ministers Council Meeting in Paris this week will be an important opportunity for New Zealand to show continued leadership on trade liberalisation. Mr McClay leaves today for the two-day event where he will meet with ministers from over 40 countries. “The theme of this year’s meeting is ‘Making Globalisation Work’ and it fits well with the priorities outlined in Trade Agenda 2030, the Government’s new trade strategy,” Mr McClay says. “Those priorities include wanting all New Zealanders to share in the economic benefits of trade. Protectionism stops this from happening,…

Australia remained New Zealand’s top trading partner in the year ended March 2017, Stats NZ said today. Trans-Tasman travel was worth more than $2 billion each way, which means the trade ties with Australia were worth more than those with China. “Higher travel services have pushed Australia into the top position for total trade, despite China being New Zealand’s top exports destination for goods such as dairy, logs, and meat,” international statistics senior manager Daria Kwon said. New Zealanders travelling to Australia spent $2.2 billion in the year ended March 2017, significantly more than the $257 million spent by New…

Ha Noi, Viet Nam – Ministers and Vice Ministers from Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Malaysia, Peru, Singapore and Viet Nam met today to discuss the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade. The Ministers reaffirmed the balanced outcome and the strategic and economic significance of the TPP highlighting its principles and high standards as a way to promote regional economic integration, contribute positively to the economic growth prospects of its member countries, and create new opportunities for workers, families, farmers, businesses and consumers. The Ministers agreed…

The build up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup presents a huge opportunity for any New Zealand tech firms considering the Japanese market as the passion for the All Blacks is huge in Japan, NZTech chief executive Graeme Muller says. Muller has been in Japan this week on an economic and trade trip lead by Prime Minister Bill English. Japan is a major trading partner with New Zealand with $6.4 billion traded between both countries last year. A large proportion of the $3.4 billion imported from Japan last year was technology, mainly consumer electronics. "New Zealand is a trusted brand…

Entries for the inaugural ExportNZ ASB Wellington Export Awards close this Friday, May 19. Entrants must have a minimum of $100,000 in export revenue and be based in the Wellington region, which includes Horowhenua, Manawatu, Tararua, and Wairarapa down to Wellington. Companies can enter any of four categories: Marsh Innovation in Export Award, MFAT Most Sustainable in Export Award, Wellington Airport Emerging Exporter Award, CentrePort Excellence in Export Services Award. Entrants will be required to describe their company and its achievements in export. The judges will visit shortlisted companies during the week of 29 May – 2 June, at which…

Science and Innovation and Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith will travel to China tonight to represent New Zealand at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing. “Attending the first Belt and Road Forum will allow us to add a distinctly New Zealand voice and perspective. New Zealand’s best interests lie in participating in international initiatives that have the potential to benefit our economy and society,” says Mr Goldsmith. New Zealand’s participation in the Forum follows on from Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s successful visit to New Zealand in March, where he and Prime Minister Bill…

Trade Minister Todd McClay travels to Vietnam today to hold talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Trade Minister Tran Tuan Anh to discuss developments for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreements. “New Zealand and Vietnam are both parties to the TPP Agreement and the RCEP negotiation and we have a mutual commitment to high-quality trade deals that create opportunity for our citizens,” Mr McClay says. “The Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing region in the world and this presents a huge number of opportunities for our farmers, growers, exporters and our wider economy.”…

Trade Minister Todd McClay will chair the first meeting of the Trade Ministerial Advisory Group today (MAG) and says it builds on a strong campaign of new engagement opportunities in the trade portfolio. “Trade contributed $70 billion to the New Zealand economy last year alone and hundreds of thousands of jobs depend on it. We all have a stake in the continued success of our export sector,” Mr McClay says. “The MAG has been set up with this in mind and will provide better engagement on all trade issues. It will also serve as a more direct avenue for a…

Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges and Trade Minister Todd McClay have announced that New Zealand will participate in World Expo 2020, to be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The announcement was made during Mr Bridges’ visit to Dubai. “Through Budget 2017, the Government is committing $53.3 million to construct a New Zealand Pavilion that will allow Kiwi businesses to highlight their innovative products and services and open doors to new export markets,” says Mr Bridges. “Showcasing New Zealand to the world is a crucial part of boosting economic growth. Expo 2020 will provide a springboard to promote us as…

Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges will travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tomorrow for meetings with Ministerial counterparts in Dubai. “New Zealand’s relationship with the UAE continues to go from strength to strength. This visit will be an opportunity to progress discussions across a range of areas, including economic opportunities and collaboration in areas such as renewable energy and the New Zealand-Gulf Cooperation Council Free Trade Agreement,” Mr Bridges says. The UAE is now New Zealand’s largest export market in the Middle East, and our 12th largest trading partner. Alongside meetings with counterparts, the Minister will also meet with…

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) has launched a new service designed to help early-stage exporters learn the fundamentals of becoming a successful export business. NZTE’s new service, Export Essentials, consists of two parts. There are ten online guides that cover the basics of exporting that businesses can work through in their own time and pace. There is also a hands-on, collaborative two-day workshop, where participants will learn proven methods for successful exporting and leave with practical tools that they can apply directly to their business. “We’re really excited to add Export Essentials to our range of services. I believe…

Trade Minister Todd McClay travels to Malaysia today for high-level talks with Malaysian Trade Minister Mustapa Mohamed and to mark 60 years of successful bilateral relations between the two countries. Mr McClay will also speak about trade and investment opportunities in New Zealand at a business forum in front of 150 of Malaysia’s top executives and investors. “We have made a lot of progress in 60 years, particularly since a free trade agreement (FTA) was signed between our two countries in 2010,” Mr McClay says. “Malaysia is now our 10th largest two-way trading partner and in 2016 we exported more…

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner today welcomed the completion of a key trade system. Trade Single Window, which is a major component of the Joint Border Management System programme by Customs and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), is an e-commerce platform that enables importers and exporters to meet all border requirements in one place. “Trade Single Window first launched in 2013 and last month hit a major milestone with its five-millionth transaction. The final elements successfully rolled out over the weekend, meaning the system is now complete,” Ms Wagner says. “This is the culmination of an incredible amount of hard…

Foreign Minister Murray McCully welcomes the Angolan Minister of External Relations Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, who he will meet in Wellington today. “This visit presents an opportunity to deepen this relationship, including through discussing ways to increase trade flows. Angola had one of the fastest-growing economies of the past decade, and appointed its first ever Ambassador to New Zealand, resident in Singapore, last year,” Mr McCully says. “New Zealand and Angola served together as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council from 2015–2016. Angola is a leader in the Southern African region, and it provides an important voice on African…

Major Chinese banks operating in New Zealand continued to make significant inroads last year, with a strong rise in overall assets across all three as they look to cash in on the growing trade ties between the two nations. Trade between China and New Zealand has tripled to $23 billion since the free trade agreement between the two nations came into force in 2008. The money flow looks set to continue after New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English and China Premier Li Keqiang last week signed off a series of co-operation deals spanning trade, customs, travel and climate change and…

Energy and Resources Minister Judith Collins is leading a petroleum sector trade delegation to Texas and an electricity sector trade delegation to Silicon Valley next week. Ms Collins will be accompanied by a petroleum sector delegation, which includes representatives from New Zealand Oil and Gas, Todd Energy and the Petroleum Exploration & Production Association of New Zealand, to Texas. In Texas, Ms Collins will be attending the American Association of Petroleum Geologists’ Annual Convention & Exhibition in Houston, as well as meeting with exploration and service companies to discuss investment opportunities in New Zealand. Ms Collins will then lead an…

To many in New Zealand, the Oceanian state looks like an isolated outpost with economic powerhouses far, far away in another hemisphere. [Special coverage] It's at the end of a trail that snakes through Southeast Asia before a three-hour flight from Australia lands you in one of its handful of international airports. Small wonder that the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, a massive economic and trade project for common development and prosperity in countries along its routes in Europe, Africa and Asia, is little talked about here. However, New Zealanders are now starting to realize that while their country might…

An agreement to boost New Zealand-China trade was today signed by Customs Minister Nicky Wagner and China’s Ambassador, His Excellency Mr Wang Lutong. The Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) ensures border agencies in New Zealand and China recognise one another’s trusted exporter programmes. “New Zealand and China Customs enjoy a strong working relationship. This arrangement will further strengthen ties by helping streamline the movement of goods,” Ms Wagner says. “Companies signed up to New Zealand Customs’ Secure Export Scheme will automatically benefit from faster cargo clearance, reduced document checks and less examination.” The MRA will come into effect on 1 July…

New Zealand and China will begin talks on an upgrade of the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries on April 25, Prime Minister Bill English announced today. The announcement followed official talks between the Prime Minister and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Wellington today. “The FTA with China has been an enormous success,” Mr English says. “Since coming into force in 2008 two-way trade between our two countries has tripled to $23 billion, creating jobs and opportunities for people in both countries. An upgrade will ensure this momentum continues and ensure that the FTA remains a modern agreement that…

The annual trade deficit for the year ended February 2017 was $3.8 billion, the largest since April 2009, Stats NZ said today. The export of a large drilling platform in 2016 inflated annual exports and reduced the annual trade deficit over the period from February 2016 to January 2017. Drilling platforms, some worth hundreds of millions of dollars, are counted in goods trade as imports when they arrive in New Zealand and as exports when they leave, even though they are typically leased for the period they are in New Zealand. If the drilling platform export of 2016 is excluded,…

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced that New Zealand will open a High Commission in Colombo, Sri Lanka. "Establishing a High Commission in Colombo is a sign of New Zealand’s commitment to strengthening the relationship between our countries," Mr McCully says. “Sri Lanka is rebuilding after a generation-long civil war, and we are keen to support that process politically and through a broader economic relationship. It is a growing economy, has a major dairy market and has expressed its interest in learning further about farming from New Zealand. “Sri Lanka offers increasing value and diversity to our exporters, and is…

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced that New Zealand will open an embassy in Dublin, Ireland. “New Zealand and Ireland enjoy a very warm relationship which is underpinned by our shared values,” Mr McCully says. “We work closely together on issues such as climate change, disarmament, and human rights, and are also both members of the Small Advanced Economies Initiative. “Having an embassy in Dublin will enable us to build on and strengthen this relationship. “Ireland is an important member of the European Union, so the Embassy will also support New Zealand’s interests in Europe, including as they relate to…

Good morning. Can I start by thanking the International Business Forum and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce for hosting this event. And can I acknowledge your guests and my ministerial colleagues. In particular I want to acknowledge Trade Minister Todd McClay, who along with Foreign Minister Murray McCully is doing an excellent job of promoting our interests overseas. I think Todd and Murray would admit that some parts of that job are not too difficult. After all, we have an enviable reputation around the world. New Zealand is renowned for its great lifestyle, safe and friendly communities, good public services…

Prime Minister Bill English has today launched New Zealand’s updated trade strategy, Trade Agenda 2030, and reiterated the Government’s commitment to free trade. The Prime Minister has also announced the Government’s ambitious goal of having free trade agreements cover 90 per cent of New Zealand’s goods exports by 2030, up from 53 per cent today, as well as investing $91.3 million over four years through Budget 2017 to help achieve this. “New Zealand is succeeding and New Zealanders are getting ahead. Wages and employment opportunities are rising, we’re investing in infrastructure like schools and roads and the Government’s books are…

Prime Minister Bill English announced today that he and Premier Li will hold official talks in Wellington, and that he and the Premier will also meet business leaders in Auckland during his visit from 26 to 29 March. "The visit is an important opportunity to set the agenda for the next stage of our strong relationship and demonstrates our shared commitment to open trade and economic growth," Mr English says. Premier Li’s visit marks the 45th year of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand, and comes three years after China and New Zealand declared a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during…

BADEN-BADEN, Germany The world's top economic powers have dropped a pledge to fully oppose trade protectionism, amid pushback from the government of U.S. President Donald Trump. Finance ministers at a Group of 20 meeting in Germany issued a statement Saturday that said only that countries "are working to strengthen the contribution of trade" to their economies. By comparison, last year's meeting called on... Full article on World powers drop pledge to fully oppose trade protectionism . . .read full release here | A World News release | March 18, 2017 ||

The easing of United Nations sanctions against Iran in 2016 has created export opportunities for New Zealand. There is significant scope for increased trade, but care is needed. The Government puts its shoulder to the wheel Since United Nations sanctions were eased in 2016, there has been an uptick in government-to-government contact between New Zealand and Iran. The latest visit was by Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy early this month. While in Iran, Minister Guy witnessed the conclusion of a Meat Agreement between the Iranian Veterinary Organisation and the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries and the signing of…

Viña del Mar, Chile - High Level Representatives from Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Malaysia, Peru, and Singapore and Vietnam met here today to discuss the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) on the margins of the High Level Dialogue on Integration Initiatives for the Asia Pacific. The participating partners reiterated their firm commitment to collaborate in keeping markets open and to the free flow of goods, services and investment advancing regional economic integration and strengthening the rules-based international trading system noting our concern with protectionism in many parts of the world. They recalled the balanced outcome and the…

The amount of water exported in bottles is so small that it is irrelevant to the important discussion on better managing New Zealand’s freshwater resources, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says. “We use a million times more water for irrigation, town water supply and industry than that for bottled export. Bottled water exports are such a small fraction that it is a distraction to the important debate about how New Zealand better manages its freshwater resources.” New Zealand’s annual freshwater resource is 500 trillion litres of which 2 per cent, or 10 trillion litres, is extracted. Statistics New Zealand reports…

Trade Minister Todd McClay travels from London to Chile today for the first combined meeting of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries following the United States’ withdrawal from the agreement. “I welcome the opportunity to sit down with other TPP ministers, to take stock of current developments and to look at how we might move this important agreement forward together,” Mr McClay says. Mr McClay says he believed the TPP Agreement continued to offer value as a common set of rules across the Asia-Pacific region. "I have recently visited Australia, Japan, Singapore and Mexico, met with ministers from Brunei and Malaysia and…

Trade Minister Todd McClay met International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox and Minister for Trade Policy Lord Price today to reaffirm their joint commitment to global trade liberalisation, and lay the foundations for the future trade relationship between the UK and New Zealand. International Trade Secretary Liam Fox asserted the importance the UK places on its trading relationship with New Zealand, with total trade in goods and services between the two countries increasing by 13 per cent between 2014-15. The ministers welcomed progress made during the inaugural Trade Policy Dialogue meeting earlier this month. “Our dialogue will enable us to…

Trade Minister Todd McClay and European Union Trade Commissioner Cecelia Malmström have agreed the completion of joint scoping discussions towards an EU-NZ Free Trade Agreement (FTA) following a meeting in Brussels today. After almost 2 years of discussion, reaching this significant milestone means the FTA process now enters a new phase, where the Commission and New Zealand will seek respective mandates to commence negotiations. "Today’s meeting was an important demonstration of our commitment to launch negotiations as soon as possible in 2017," Mr McClay says. “New Zealand and the EU both recognise there are substantial benefits to be gained from…

Trade Minister Todd McClay will travel to Brussels for Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks with the European Union (EU) this weekend and will then go on to London for a meeting of Commonwealth Trade Ministers. 'The simple aim of my visit to Brussels is to meaningfully advance efforts to commence our FTA negotiations with the EU,' Mr McClay says. 'The EU is our third largest trading partner with annual two-trade closing in on $21 billion. It is immensely important that we continue to fight on behalf of our exporters for improved access and reduced tariffs.' In London, Mr McClay will…

Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy has attended the world’s largest food tradeshow in Dubai today, as annual two-way trade with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries exceeds $3.2 billion. “This visit is an opportunity to strengthen our business and trade links between GCC countries and New Zealand by shining the spotlight on our world-class products,” says Mr Guy. Gulfood is a five-day food show and provides a platform for New Zealand companies to impress 95,000 visitors expected to visit the 5000 stands from more than 120 countries. “Food and beverage is an important part of our trading relationship, built…

Minister of Primary Industries Nathan Guy has witnessed an agreement in Tehran enabling the resumption of sheep and beef exports to Iran, and witnessed Zespri signalling its willingness to explore the development of the kiwifruit market. “This is a crucial step for New Zealand meat companies as they look to re-enter the Iranian market," says Mr Guy. The conclusion of a Meat Arrangement between the Iranian Veterinary Organisation (IVO) and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries provides the conditions for chilled and frozen sheep and beef exports to resume with Iran, the second largest economy in the Middle East…

Primary Industries Minister departs for Iran and the United Arab Emirates today on a trip to build closer trading relationships. “Iran has been an important trading partner for New Zealand in the past and there is great opportunity to increase our two-way trade. This is an exciting step for New Zealand companies who are working with importers in Iran,” says Mr Guy. “This will be the third ministerial visit to Iran in 12 months and reflects the growing importance of this relationship. This is an opportunity to strengthen our agricultural relationship, following the signing of an Agricultural Cooperation Arrangement in…

Trade Minister Todd McClay says he is extremely confident New Zealand has a strong case following Indonesia's decision to appeal a World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling in favour of New Zealand beef and horticulture exports and says he expects Indonesia to meet their WTO obligations following the appeal. New Zealand and the United States brought a case against Indonesia disputing 18 agricultural non-tariff barriers. The WTO ruled in favour of NZ and the US on all 18 disputed point in December last year. “It is very common for WTO rulings of this nature to be appealed and we had expected…

The annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ talks have taken the cooperation between our two countries forward in a number of areas, Prime Minister Bill English says. Mr English met with Prime Minister Turnbull in Queenstown today to discuss common approaches to bilateral and international issues, including trade and science and innovation. Mr English also thanked Mr Turnbull for Australia’s offer of support for those fighting the fires on the Port Hills in Christchurch. “Australia is our closest friend and ally. “A friendship is never stronger than in times of need and New Zealand is very appreciative of the understanding Australians have…

With exporting a hot topic, it’s time for those in the industry to share their success stories with the rest of New Zealand.​Entries are now open to the Air New Zealand Cargo ExportNZ Awards 2017 – and Auckland and Waikato and judges are wanting to hear how exporters have triumphed over adversity to build a successful business. New Zealand is a trading nation and our exporters are vital to New Zealand’s economy, which has come under the spotlight with recent global events that indicate a move to more protectionist policies, says Catherine Lye, Regional Manager of ExportNZ Auckland, Waikato &…

Trade Minister Todd McClay will visit Mexico today to meet his counterpart, Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo and discuss the future of trade between our two countries. “Mexico is already our largest trading partner in Latin America, and there is huge scope to further advance our economies, boosting trade and investment, and working together more closely in the Asia-Pacific region,” Mr McClay says. This will be the Government’s first formal contact with Mexico since the United States withdrawal from the TPP agreement. “It is timely that we sit down and discuss how to move our trading relationship forward. I expect our…

Prime Minister Bill English has announced Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will make an official visit to New Zealand this week. Prime Minister Turnbull, Treasurer Scott Morrison and Industry Minister, Senator Arthur Sinodinos, arrive in Queenstown for the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ meeting on Friday 17 February. New Zealand’s Finance Minister Steven Joyce and Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges will also join the meeting. “I am looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Turnbull to Queenstown. His visit continues the tradition of holding trans-Tasman Leaders’ meetings early in the year,” Mr English says. “This visit will be a good opportunity to…

SHANGHAI, Feb 10 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed to work together to support free trade and globalisation when they met in New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, China's foreign ministry has said in a statement. The pair met on Thursday and discussed launching negotiations to upgrade an existing bilateral free trade agreement and cooperate in sectors such as infrastructure, tourism and judicial enforcement, said the statement published late on Thursday on the ministry's website. "Hand in hand, we should protect the international trade system, build the open economy, and try to…

Exporters Must Persuade Government to Start Backtracking. Russia’s ban on importing New Zealand beef on the grounds of discovering additives in it has in fact all the characteristics of a reprisal for participating in the United States-invoked embargo. New Zealand is viewed as an easy target as the Russians now start retaliating against those nations which supported the blockade. The embargo mainly involved the United States and the EU. But anxious to appease the United States New Zealand deliberately demonstrated “solidarity” with the US, in the words of former premier John Key. In return for this New Zealand took pole…

Trade Minister Todd McClay today welcomed the inaugural daily flight of Qatar Airways direct Auckland – Doha service at Auckland International Airport saying the world's longest flight was set to boost New Zealand trade and tourism. “Qatar is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the air link will continue to gain importance when New Zealand concludes a Free Trade Agreement with the GCC,” Mr McClay says. The new service is the world’s longest commercial flight, taking 17 hours and 30 minutes and covering a distance of 14,535 kilometres. “The new Auckland – Doha service will not only…

Trade Minister Todd McClay will visit Japan and Singapore this week to discuss regional trade issues with his ministerial counterparts. During his visit to Japan, which is the first stop, Mr McClay will meet with the Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization Nobuteru Ishihara. “Japan is New Zealand’s fifth largest two-way trading partner, a significant source of foreign investment, and a key international partner in our efforts to liberalise trade in the Asia-Pacific region,” Minister McClay says. “We need to sit down and discuss the future of trade between our two countries and how we can best support regional economic…

New Zealand’s top two export commodities, meat and dairy, both fell by value in 2016, Statistics New Zealand said today. The total value of all export goods was $48.4 billion for the year ended December 2016, down $544 million from the previous year. This is the second annual fall in a row for exports. The latest annual total is $1.6 billion less than the high of the 2014 year. The biggest fall by value was for meat and edible offal, our second largest export group, with sales down $909 million to $5.9 billion. The fall in meat was driven by…

Trade Minister Todd McClay has said that New Zealand’s ongoing and future trade relationship with the United Kingdom is in good shape following agreement on the next steps for the newly established NZ-UK Trade Policy Dialogue. The progress was made during a meeting between Minister McClay and his UK counterpart, Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “This is an important day for trade relations between our two countries as the Trade Policy Dialogue will ensure there is no disruption to trading conditions as a result of Britain leaving the European…

Trade Minister Todd McClay has confirmed New Zealand and Sri Lanka will progress discussions on new trade and investment opportunities, which could include a Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. The announcement comes after a meeting between Mr McClay and Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and I have instructed officials to consider how New Zealand and Sri Lanka can build the right framework to grow our economic relationship through a trade arrangement, including the possibility of working with other like-minded countries,” Mr McClay says. “Sri Lanka and…

A newly launched joint data sharing system between New Zealand and Chinese Customs will give kiwi exporters a competitive advantage, says Customs Minister Nicky Wagner. “Having the Joint Electronic Verification System operational gives New Zealand a big advantage over other exporters to China as we are only the second country in the world to have this sort of system in place with them. “JEVS makes the customs process simpler to accelerate border clearance, provide greater assurance over goods, and decrease the risk of goods being held up due to minor issues. “The new joint system automatically sends New Zealand’s Certificate…

WELLINGTON， Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay will be in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next week in another bid to finalize a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Gulf states. MClay said Friday he would be pressing for a conclusion to the negotiations between New Zealand and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)， which began back in 2009. McClay would meet bilaterally with ministerial counterparts and business leaders， including UAE Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoor and Kuwaiti Minister of Commerce Khalid Nasser Al Roudhan. "This is my third visit to…

With few exceptions, governments across Europe do not like Donald Trump’s policies. As he prepares to enter the White House, the U.S. president-elect has already spoken extensively about making America great again. In particular, his economic policies seem protectionist, and his foreign policy, particularly with regard to Israel and Russia, will pose serious challenges to the EU. But instead of moaning about what is still Europe’s greatest ally, EU leaders should respond to the new administration in several ways. These responses are not about countering U.S. influence, which would be impossible in any case. They are about understanding why and…

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan TD, met with New Zealand Foreign Minister, the Honourable Murray McCully at Iveagh House for talks today. At the meeting the Ministers discussed the opportunities and challenges that have arisen as a result of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union. The Ministers also spoke about Ireland’s bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023 and exchanged national rugby jerseys. “The Irish bid team regularly refer to New Zealand’s hosting of the World Cup in 2011 as the inspiration for the Irish bid. That tournament was a remarkable success…

European Union leaders have talked up the prospects of a free trade agreement, saying it would send a strong political signal as protectionism takes hold elsewhere. They have even suggested it could be completed within three years. Bill English arrived in Brussels today on his first official overseas trip as Prime Minister. After meeting English, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said they expected formal negotiations for the long-awaited free trade agreement between the EU and New Zealand to begin soon. Tusk said it would further strengthen relations and made an apparent reference to the…

Winners and losers in tradeoff Exactly how a liberal government’s attempt to appease its Green Party MPs led to a declaration of war, however figurative, from the prime minister of Israel is the strangest tale yet in New Zealand’s almost two centuries of farm politics. Exactly how this state of affairs led to a covert New Zealand taxpayer funded stock handling depot in the middle of a Middle East desert only contributes to a tale which ranks alongside anything from Arabian Nights. The way in which it made strange bedfellows of meat packing, slaughter house, freezing works proprietors and the…

Britain should secure trade agreements with former colonies ahead of Brexit, MPs argue. On Politico By Esther King The U.K. should reject the customs union and embrace trade with Commonwealth countries post-Brexit, according to a report by the Free Enterprise Group of Tory lawmakers released Tuesday. Brexit is an opportunity to return to the U.K.’s “free trading principles” and pursue an agenda of “independent, worldwide trade liberalization and tariff elimination,” according to the report, which is co-authored by Conservative MP James Cleverly and Royal Commonwealth Society policy director Tim Hewish. The Free Enterprise Group also includes Brexit hardliners such as…

A New Zealand based leading multinational dairy company -- Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited has expressed their interest to invest in the country's dairy sector, a high official of concern ministry said. Fisheries and Livestock minister during his visit to New Zealand last year got the proposal from Fonterra for investment in the country's dairy sector. To this effect, top officials of Fonterra visited Dhaka last month and submitted a proposal in this regard to the government requesting to arrange a government to government meeting (G to G) between Bangladesh and the New Zealand. Board Director of Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited…

Trade talks at risk because of European sensitivities on agriculture, a populist Kiwi lawmaker says. Trade talks between New Zealand and Europe risk being shot down by national or regional parliaments in the EU and should be shelved to prioritize a deal with the U.K., a populist Kiwi lawmaker has said. Ahead of Tuesday’s meeting in Brussels between New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who are expected to discuss bilateral trade negotiations that could start in the upcoming months, trade spokesperson Fletcher Tabuteau from the populist New Zealand First party warned of “deep trouble”…

More local businesses looking to expand into Korea will benefit from the latest round of tariff reductions under the New Zealand-Korea Free Trade Agreement, Trade Minister Todd McClay says. The start of 2017 saw two thirds of New Zealand’s exports to Korea become duty free, up from 46 per cent in 2016. “Thanks to this continued progress under the FTA, even more New Zealand businesses can compete favourably in the Korean market,” Mr McClay says. New Zealand and Korea celebrated the first anniversary of the agreement in December 2016. Since the FTA’s entry into force in December 2015, New Zealand…

The World Trade Organisation has upheld New Zealand's challenge to 18 agricultural non-tariff barriers imposed by Indonesia. New Zealand and the United States jointly brought the case against Indonesia in 2013 over a range of barriers imposed on agricultural imports since 2011. They included import prohibitions, use and sale restrictions, restrictive licence terms and a domestic purchase requirement. Trade Minister Todd McClay says they've cost the New Zealand beef sector alone between half a billion and a billion dollars. "This is an important result for New Zealand's agricultural exporters, and for trade fairness," he said on Friday. "As a result…

YANGON - Myanmar's economy is slowly emerging from the crippling effects of decades of military rule, where a poorly-managed resources industry dominated much of the country's trade. The Aung San Suu Kyi-led government is encouraging foreign and local investment in job-creating export industries, with a strong focus on manufacturing. Boosted by U.S. President Barack Obama's recent removal of executive sanctions on Myanmar, the country's garment industry is on the rise, and aims to be the nation's largest employer. The NLD-led government hopes new factories can provide employment for hundreds of thousands, whose education and work opportunities were stunted under 50…

Beef and lamb exports fell in November, as the amount of meat sold dropped heavily compared with last year’s record season, Statistics New Zealand said today. Meat and edible offal exports fell $158 million (31 percent) from November 2015, contributing to a $219 million (5.4 percent) fall in overall exports. Beef exports fell 41 percent in value and 31 percent in quantity, and lamb exports fell 27 percent in value and 23 percent in quantity. “Beef exports to the United States, our top beef export destination, fell by around half when compared to November last year” senior manager Jason Attewell…

Santa Urges the World to Forgive Hi everyone! Santa’s workshop is running full tilt at this hour but production estimates are behind where they hoped to be by this time. Elf Bernard said that while the Merry Prankster did no lasting harm to the workshop he did set them behind a bit with his constant pranks over the past month. But elves are so happy that he has been caught it appears they are making up for lost time in fine fashion. We still have a few days before Santa launches but I’m hearing rumors already that Santa’s workshop will…

The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has a lot on its plate as it gears up for at least four trade missions across Asia and the Pacific in 2017. Glenn Soco, MCCI president, said they plan to send delegates to explore business and investment opportunities in Laos in Cambodia, Australia and New Zealand, Ayabe in Japan, as well as Thailand next year. “Laos is a new frontier as their country is opening up to foreign investors. They are keen on building stronger trade with the Philippines also,” he said in a text message to Cebu Daily News. In…

India plans to take a longer period to eliminate tariff with China to give the domestic industry enough time to adjust to a trade deal with China. New Delhi:India plans to offer tariff elimination on more than 70% traded goods with China over an extended period of time under the ongoing negotiations for a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement. “One cannot go beyond 6% offer on either side of common concession. For example, if common concession is decided at 80% for all countries, then we cannot offer China tariff elimination of less than 74%,” a government official said, requesting…

Trade finance remains poor relation of populist state industry hand-outs As the 1980s dawned the Silicon Valley of the South Seas was the Hutt Valley. Apple’s Steve Wozniak cruised the valley in awe of the digital presentation skills of the state television operation based on the Avalon studios. The state’s own physics and engineering laboratory was at work on advanced integrated circuitry and superconducting. A privately held company variously known as Systems and Programmes Ltd, SPL, and Progeni had designed a desk top product that had taken interactive screen graphics further than any other developer had taken the science up…

Dumping products should not be allowed in the New Zealand market, says ManufacturingNZ. Dumping is selling products in an export market at a lower cost than they are sold in their home marketParliament's commerce select committee has been considering a Trade Bill* that would allow dumping to occur in New Zealand as long as a 'public interest' test was followed. The select committee has now reached deadlock on the issue, and is not able to provide a recommendation to Parliament on whether the Bill should proceed.ManufacturingNZ Executive Director Catherine Beard says the Bill should not proceed. "This Bill came about…

In one corner, there is the United States; in the other, China. The sole superpower trying to maintain its top position versus a dormant giant now increasingly ready to assume what it deems its rightful place in the world. Or so the popular narrative goes. It sees both nations vying for influence in the region by binding other countries to them through trade deals: the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which the US is a part of, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which China is in. This impression has been reinforced by rhetoric from both sides. US President Barack Obama,…

Non tariff measures (NTMs) are becoming increasingly worrisome for New Zealand exporters. Our firms know these NTMs impose considerable costs, reduce trade volumes and eat into margins posts John Ballingall, Deputy Chief Executive, NZ Institute for Economic Research (NZIER) on TradeWorks. NTMs are regulatory tools, other than standard border tariffs, that can have potential economic effects on trade – either a decrease in quantities traded, an increase in their price, or some combination of both. Common examples are quotas, technical standards (TBT), registration processes, labelling, sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) measures and biosecurity procedures. NZIER wanted to estimate just how serious…

Trade Minister Todd McClay will meet Brunei’s Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade tomorrow. The Minister, Pehin Lim Jock Seng is visiting New Zealand along with Brunei’s Industry Minister, Pehin Yasmin Umar. “Brunei is a good friend of New Zealand, working cooperatively with us within ASEAN and beyond,” says Mr McClay. “Brunei and New Zealand cooperate in trade, defence, and education – and Brunei is also a strong supporter of trade liberalisation. “Two-way trade is worth NZ$506 million and is dominated by oil. Of our more modest exports, butter accounts for 30 per cent. “I look forward to…

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the visit to New Zealand later this week by Brunei’s Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Pehin Lim Jock Seng and Energy and Industry Minister Pehin Yasmin Umar. “Brunei is an important partner for New Zealand in South East Asia, and we enjoy friendly cooperation in defence, trade and education,” Mr McCully says. “During the visit, we will discuss Brunei’s plans to diversify its economy and how New Zealand can best support these efforts. Our talks will also focus on regional economic and political issues.”

The distance between China and New Zealand has just became a lot closer today with the announcement of five new business landing pads now available for Kiwi businesses in China. Five leading business innovation hubs in Shanghai, Chengdu and Chongqing have fostered a relationship with New Zealand based business FunderTech to open their doors to foreign businesses. The Chinese Local Government are supporting the initiative by providing shared workspaces while FunderTech will be providing a wrap-around support service for kiwi businesses to accelerate grow and investment opportunities. The deal provides flexible terms for up to 40 foreign businesses to establish…

Forgotten deal relied on common sense instead of currency The advent of New Zealand’s only branded home-grown vehicle the Trekka 50 years ago was the result of a counter trade, a barter, that even today is still staggering in its simplicity. Indeed, the sheer scope of the barter even today is still unrecognised just because it was so straightforward. New Zealand had a surplus of wool. Czechoslovakia’s Skoda Works had a surplus of vehicles. Therein lay the deal. Until this moment it has remained a secret. We will now reveal how it worked out in practice. The organisation to see…

THE Pacific Islands Trade & Investment (PTI) agency successfully met with exporters in Honiara in a bid to open up the New Zealand market to Solomon Islanders. Twenty attendants from 15 export companies went through a day-long programme with PT&I that is spearheaded by the PT&I (NZ) Auckland branch with support from the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI). Ian Furlong, the trade development manager of PT&I (NZ) described the training a big success and one that has attracted very keen interest compared with the programme in other Pacific countries. It is the first time for PT&I to…

Tehran, Dec 4, IRNA – New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay said on Sunday that Wellington government is willing to draw up a roadmap for economic cooperation with Iran and set up a joint committee to promote trade ties.He made the proposal in a meeting with Iran's Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh in Tehran. He called for cooperation on research, development and innovation. Stressing the need for compiling a roadmap for strengthening industrial and trade relations, he said that New Zealand banking and insurance experts are currently on a visit to Iran to help resolve problems…

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh suggested Vietnam and New Zealand strengthen their economic and trade ties in order to reach the bilateral trade target of US$1.7 billion in 2020 set by their senior leaders.vietnam new zealand look to stronger economic tiesDeputy PM Pham Binh Minh (left) meets with Speaker of New Zealand’s House of Representatives David Carter (Photo: VNA) The official made the proposal during his meetings with Speaker of New Zealand’s House of Representatives David Carter and Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Finance Minister Bill English in Wellington on December 1. He called on the two countries to…

New Zealand was once Britain’s Farm on the other side of the world. In the 1950s the UK bought almost all of New Zealand’s agricultural exports. Somewhat ironically, it was our decision to enter the European Economic Community (EEC) in the 1973 that forced New Zealand to embrace free trade, opening up to other export markets and developing other products. While the country initially experienced a difficult transition period, New Zealand slowly transformed itself from one of the most regulated and protected economies in the world into one of the most market-orientated. New Zealand’s experience in redesigning its trade strategy…

The New Zealand economy is doing extremely well, because of trade liberalisation, not in spite of it. We are one of the most open economies in the world. Our economic performance is the envy of many countries, certainly our closest neighbour and largest trading partner Australia and many EU member states. GDP growth this year was 3.6 per cent and is forecast to remain between 3 and 3.5 per cent for a number of years to come. Unemployment has fallen to 4.9 per cent with labour force participation rates the highest they have been since records were first kept. Debt-to-GDP…

Trade Minister Todd McClay leads a senior-level business delegation on New Zealand’s first trade mission to Tehran in twelve years, today. Iran and New Zealand have a long-standing trade relationship, dating back to 1975 when New Zealand established an Embassy in Tehran, its first in the Middle East. “There is enormous opportunity for Iran and New Zealand to work together to boost two-way trade,” says Mr McClay. “Iran has traditionally been a very important market for our sheep meat and butter however exports have diminished over a number of years. Since the lifting of UN sanctions there are now renewed…

Trade Minister Todd McClay today published a summary of what New Zealand businesses think about Brexit and the impact they believe it could have on trade with the United Kingdom – New Zealand’s fifth largest trading partner. This follows a public consultation held earlier in the year to better understand the position of New Zealand exporters and investors into the UK market. A total of 18 submissions were received, with businesses sighting a combination of potential opportunities and challenges from the United Kingdom’s decision to separate from the European Union. “Understanding the views of New Zealand businesses is fundamental to…

Excessive red tape, glacial bureaucratic processes and arbitrary new rules in overseas markets are a big – and costly – part of the trade picture for Kiwi exporters of agriculture, food and other products say the NZ International Business Forum (NZIBF) and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). Two recent studies throw a spotlight on the burden imposed by so-called “non-tariff barriers” (NTBs) faced by New Zealand firms operating in the Asia-Pacific. The first report was prepared by the USC Marshall School of Business and released by ABAC at the recent APEC meetings in Lima and focuses on the impact…

Trade Minister Todd McClay has welcomed the release of two studies which shed new light on the cost and impact of unnecessary red tape and arbitrary trade rules on New Zealand’s exports. “Technically referred to as non-tariff barriers, these unfair obstacles are costing New Zealand businesses US$5.9 billion every year,” says Mr McClay. This is according to a report released this week by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research. The research was commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign and Trade as a contribution to Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) work on this issue. In parallel to this, the APEC…

TEHRAN, Nov. 29 (MNA) – Iran's Ambassador to New Zealand Jalalelddin Namini Mianeji on Tuesday announced that the two countries enjoy growing economic and political relations. He said New Zealand’s Trade Minister Todd McClay, heading a private sector economic delegation, will travel to Europe and Iran over the next week to take part in a number of trade-related events. His team will hold talks and meetings with Iranian officials on examining ways to develop and deepen bilateral economic relations in post-JCPOA era. "This is the first high-ranking economic delegation of New Zealand that enters Iran during post-sanctions era," Namini underlined.…

Italian Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Ivan Scalfarotto and New Zealand Minister of Trade, Todd McClay, have jointly hosted a business event in Milan today committing to doubling two-way trade between the two countries. Mr McClay is on a trade promotion visit to Europe and today joined his Italian counterpart at a Business Roundtable with 30 New Zealand and Italian businesses. “At my last meeting with Mr Scalfarotto, we reaffirmed our commitment to expanding bilateral trade and agreed to bring our business communities together,” says Mr McClay. Mr Scalfarotto said today's Roundtable event had demonstrated the supportive business environments and…

The new Customs and Excise Bill will strengthen border management and make life simpler for businesses, says Customs Minister Nicky Wagner. “The Bill will take the place of the out-dated Customs and Excise Act 1996, which is difficult to understand and apply, creating unnecessary compliance costs for business,” Ms Wagner says. “Businesses’ obligations will be clearer and there will be more flexibility in meeting them in the new modern legislation. “We have addressed concerns raised by the public during consultation around Customs’ powers to search e-devices at the border. “Customs’ powers to examine and access electronic devices will be restricted…

WELLINGTON， Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand exports to South Korea have grown strongly since the two countries implemented a bilateral free trade agreement in December last year， Trade Minister Todd McClay said Tuesday. In the first nine months since entry into force of the New Zealand-Korea Free Trade Agreement， food and beverage exports to South Korea rose 16 percent to 449 million NZ dollars (317.17 million U.S. dollars) compared to the same period a year earlier， McClay said in a statement ahead of the first anniversary of the agreement. "Those products where tariffs have been eliminated immediately have fared…

| Wellington Nov 23, 2016 | -Trade Minister Todd McClay and opposition MPs will travel to Europe and Iran over the next week to take part in a number of trade-related events. Mr McClay says New Zealand needs to engage more broadly in trade-related activities in Europe and this mission would offer a valuable opportunity to promote New Zealand goods and services in these lucrative markets. "Italy, France and the United Kingdom are collectively worth more than $9.2 billion of two-way trade and are home to 190 million consumers. That is significant. “The mission will engage directly with New Zealand…

Trade Minister Todd McClay and Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed met at APEC in Lima today to conclude the first General Review of the Malaysia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (MNZFTA). The FTA entered into force on 1 August 2010. “The strong trade and investment flows between the two economies are underpinned by a close and cooperative working relationship,” says Mr McClay. “It is a solid platform to develop further trade and investment opportunities in both our countries.” The Review Report concludes that the operation and implementation of the Agreement is serving the Agreement’s…

Prime Minister John Key today announced the launch of negotiations to upgrade the New Zealand - China Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The announcement followed a meeting this morning with Trade Minister Todd McClay and Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng at the APEC Summit in Lima, Peru. Mr Key and President Xi welcomed the commitment to an upgrade at the APEC Leaders’ retreat today. “New Zealand was the first developed country to negotiate and conclude an FTA with China, and I’m pleased that today we have reached the fifth ‘first’ in our relationship, as the first developed country to launch an…

Obvious benefits emerging from shrouds | Napier - MSCNewsWire - Monday 21 Nov,2016 |- Now that the media-led hysteria attendant upon the election of Donald Trump is fading we can obtain a clear fix on the new United States trade policies. They in fact indicate an increasingly fair wind for New Zealand. The priority is to in-shore what was once United States based engineering and manufacturing and return it to the rust-belts where the electors voted heavily for Trump. This will not affect New Zealand which in the 1980s and in pursuit of globalisation ceased the manufacture here, actually added…

Trade Minister Todd McClay has welcomed the third reading of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement Amendment Bill in Parliament today. The passage of this Bill is a significant step towards New Zealand ratifying the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). “It will be a signal of the commitment that New Zealand has for the continued liberalisation of international trade. At times when there is uncertainty in the rest of the world, New Zealand’s consistent and trusted voice of negotiating trade outcomes that are good for our economy needs to be heard. “Our vision for a mechanism to enhance trade between four countries grew into…

Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Paul Goldsmith has welcomed the passing of the Patents (Trans-Tasman Patent Attorneys and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, which will implement a joint trans-Tasman licensing regime for New Zealand and Australian patent attorneys. Patent attorneys make up a small profession providing specialist advice to innovative businesses on the protection and exploitation of intellectual property. “The two countries share over 500 trans-Tasman patent attorneys. With many of them already registered in both jurisdictions it makes sense to take advantage of economies of scale and save the profession time, money and effort. “A modern regime for regulating patent…

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to the Middle East next week to meet with leaders and counterparts in Jordan, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories and to attend the Sir Bani Yas Forum in Abu Dhabi. “New Zealand continues to serve as a member of the United Nations Security Council until the end of the year and we remain focused on doing what we can to help address the current conflicts in the Middle East,” Mr McCully says. In addition to meeting with regional leaders Minister McCully will attend the 7th Sir Bani Yas Forum in Abu Dhabi. Hosted…

United States foreign worker clampdown will boost US milk production costs MSCNewsWire - Nov 10, 2016 / New Zealand’s primary produce export opportunities are more likely to rise rather than decline with the election of Donald Trump as United States President. The reason is that the incoming president as a priority has the dismantling of the confrontation between the US and Russia. The economic component of this stand-off is the United States-led embargo on exports to Russia. A détente will open up Russia especially to exports from the EU which is the United States main partner in the embargo. The…